Specialists in pursuing claims for people harmed through work or during medical treatment
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26th Feb 2010
Widow appeals for help to find husband’s former colleagues
The widow of a former Barnsley plumber who died following years of exposure to asbestos at work is asking ex-colleagues of his to come forward.
Diane Leigh, of Barnsley, lost her husband Edmund in July last year, aged 69. He had been a fit and healthy man until about five years before he died. Asbestosis was only diagnosed after his death. Mrs Leigh has now begun a claim for compensation against her husband’s former employers and is appealing for information about his work from former colleagues.
It is thought Mr Leigh was exposed to asbestos during his time working for Barnsley Council and later at HC Stringer and Sons, based at Apex Works, Blackmoorfoot Road in Huddersfield. Mr Leigh, who was known by his friends as Ted or Eddy, was employed by Barnsley Council as a plumber and pipe fitter between 1955 and 1967, during which time he completed his apprenticeship. It is likely that he was exposed to asbestos while installing and maintaining heating equipment in public buildings and schools in the Barnsley area.
Mr Leigh worked for HC Stringer and Sons, a plumbing and heating engineering company, between 1969 and 1977 where it is believed he had further exposure to asbestos from lagging while repairing and installing pipes.
Victoria Elves, industrial disease specialist with Barnsley-based Raleys Solicitors, representing Mrs Leigh, said: “We are keen to hear from anyone who worked with Mr Leigh during his time with Barnsley Council and HC Stringer and Sons. Any detail, no matter how insignificant it seems, may have an impact on this case.
“Mr Leigh was ill for some time before his death but was not actually diagnosed with asbestosis until after he had passed away. However this does not mean a claim for compensation cannot be made by a relative. Long-term asbestos exposure can have no serious health impact for decades before then leading to a devastating serious illness later in life. It is important that families of the people affected by asbestos-related illnesses can still seek justice on their behalf.”
Asbestosis is a chronic lung condition that results in shortness of breath. The condition is incurable, but treatment is available to help manage the symptoms. Asbestosis is caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a general term for a group of naturally occurring minerals. It is unusually strong and fire resistant and was widely used throughout the 20th century in the construction, building, and manufacturing industries to make a wide range of products from brake pads to ceiling tiles. Generally, if undamaged, asbestos does not present a health risk. However, if it becomes chipped or broken, asbestos can release a fine dust made up of tiny asbestos fibres. If someone breathes in the dust, the fibres can damage the lungs and trigger asbestosis.
The symptoms of asbestosis usually begin many years after the initial exposure. Most cases of asbestosis begin 15-20 years after exposure, although it can take as many as 40 years for symptoms to become apparent.
If you remember working with Edmund Leigh at any point between 1955 and 1967 and later between 1969 and 1977, please contact Victoria Elves at Raleys Solicitors on 01226 603059.
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